THE IRFU yesterday received confirmation of the acceptance of the Ireland squad members' contracts the players legal advisers. The protracted negotiations on this contentious issue are now at an end and 0 further problems are anticipated. A few formalities have now to be undertaken but it is confidently anticipated that these will be completed without delay and the IRFU will issue a statement today.
With all parties now agreed on the specific terms and conditions, the way is clear for the five day Ireland training programme to go ahead in Limerick at the weekend.
Ireland manager Pat Whelan said yesterday. "It is imperative that all aspects of the contractual situation were clarified before the weekend session and I am assured that is the situation. I do not want my disruption of, or distraction in relation to the work we have to do over the five days in Limerick. This is a very important weekend and a lot of hard work in relation to fitness and other areas has to be done. I have made it clear that I do not want any meetings or other happenings to interfere with what is scheduled."
The last squad weekend in Kildare some weeks ago had to be abandoned when players, after consultation with their agents, refused to undergo the scheduled programme on the Sunday because of insurance cover. All such difficulties have now been resolved and, with the terms in every respect agreed, the players will sign their contracts in Limerick.
The home based players, rapidly diminishing in number as the exodus to England continues, will get £30,000 plus a car. The contracts are retrospective to the start of June. Players selected for the Internationals will get match fees of £3,000 and win bonuses of £1,000 per match. The players based in England will receive £800 for each squad weekend.
The latest to join that band is the Old Wesley prop Henry Hurley. Speculation about his future and negotiations with Moseley ended yesterday when the English Midlands club announced that Hurley had signed a one year contract. Hurley was a member of Ireland's World Cup squad. and won a cap as a temporary replacement against Fiji last season. He was also in the Ireland side that played against the Barbarians in May.
The London Irish players in the Ireland squad, an ever increasing number, will train with their club tonight and travel to Limerick early tomorrow morning. The only absentee is expected to be Paddy Johns, who last week joined Saracens. Johns has been released to play for the Barbarians on Saturday against Scotland in a match in aid of the Dunblane Fund. Johns will travel to Limerick after the match and will train with his colleagues on Sunday.
The training will take place at the NCPE centre and it is anticipated that a match will form part of the work. That is likely to take place on Monday at the Bohemians ground Annacotty which is convenient to the NCPE.
But while one problem in the domestic game has now, fortunately, been overcome, there is another of international dimension which is on going. That is the dispute between the English Rugby Union and their Five Nations partners.
Following the rejection by the other nations of the English union's proposals the impasse has not been broken and no further developments have taken place. The unilateral deal with Sky Television has put England's continued participation in the annual the series in jeopardy.
Tom Kiernan, chairman of the Five Nations committee, said yesterday. "I have not had any official contact with the English union since we informed them last week that their proposals for a settlement were not acceptable. I did speak informally to England official Cliff Brittle on the telephone at the weekend."
Following their meeting in London, the Five Nations committee asked the English Union for clarification on aspects of their proposals but this was deemed unsatisfactory. In fact Brittle, chairman of the RFU's executive, and a man who has expressed his opposition to the action taken by his union, attended the meeting in London of Scotland, Wales, Ireland and France.
"Our position has been made quite clear," said Kiernan. "I would hope to hear from England again in the next few days and if that happens then any proposals they put to us will, of course, be given full consideration."
No dates have yet been set forward the semi finals of the European Cup and European Conference. I understand that it is now possible that two teams from each group could go forward to the knock out stages and this will mean quarter finals and more money for all concerned.
Meanwhile, in an era when so much is changing in the game, nothing it seems is sacred, not even the names of long established regional sides in Scotland. South of Scotland and Scottish North and Midlands, who have both qualified for the European Cup, have changed their names. South of Scotland will in future be known as Borders, while North and Midlands have changed to Caledonia. Borders are in Leinster's group in the Cup and Caledonia will be among Ulster's opponents.
